The Incident
First fic in a really long time. I'm eager to get past my writer's block though! And who doesn't love some turtle love?
Except there's no love in this story.
Anyways I hope you enjoy! I don't really plan on this being too long. If I finish it I'll feel like I'll have accomplished something haha!
Warning: this story. I apologize in advance.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea and story. Unfortunately T-T
Mikey knew there was a reason why Donnie tried his hardest not to let him in the lab. Why all the jars and test tubes inside were labeled to the point of being near baby-proofed. He knew it and he ignored it and now he had an enormous problem on his hands.
Literally on his hands. Gnawing at his thumbs; trying to claw up his arms and possibly gouge out his eyes.
Well...maybe enormous wasn't the right word for it. After all, his brothers were actually kind of small. Like...baby turtles before they were smothered in mutagen small. And angry. They were really, really angry.
~x~
It all started with a moment of boredom, shortly followed by a moment of clarity, then complete and utter stupidity.
Thursday nights were dull to begin with. Casey and April were busy with school and couldn't hang out as much as they could on the weekends. Patrols were short, training long, and the decreasing amount of Foot ninja in the streets unsettling. Master Splinter spent much of his time in deep contemplation and it was pretty much rule around the lair that he was never to be disturbed unless it was an emergency or he chose to emerge on his own accord.
Donnie, who was almost always seeking solitude in the confines of his lab, actually sat on a couch watching TV. Or he had been. Soon he was watching the daily night drama of Leo and Raph trying to bite each other's heads off. Mikey didn't know how it happened. All he knew was that by the time he finished playing with Ice Cream Kitty in the freezer and snagged the snacks he was sent to retrieve, the TV was off, Donnie was slipping into his lab, and Leo and Raph were having a competition on who could shout the loudest.
"I'm tellin' you they're UP to somethin'! We should be out there gettin' answers before it's too late!"
"Too late for what, Raph? We can't jump to conclusions!"
"I can't take sittin' here anymore! That's all we ever do nowadays! Sit, eat, sleep, train. I'm sick of it!"
"If you're so antsy then train and cool your head. You riling everyone up isn't going to solve anything."
"I'm rilin' everyone up? That's real rich Lame-o-nardo!" At this point Raph had turned, heading for the turnstiles out of the lair and into the sewer. Leo followed like a harping parent.
"And where do you think YOU'RE going hothead?"
"I'M GOIN' TOPSIDE!"
And then they were tugging and pushing at each other like a pair of squabbling kids-which honestly they were- leaving Mikey to stand in the middle of the foyer with a bit of irritation seeping in his gaze.
Whatever happened to not disturbing Master Splinter? Psh! And they scolded him for being loud.
So Mikey, with a bowl full of popcorn, had rolled his eyes and stepped into the fray. "Dudes, NOT COOL!"
Raph and Leo had stopped and looked at him, startled by the loud interruption. Mikey had glared at them, making sure his annoyance with them was clear as day. He couldn't help but be somewhat proud of himself for making his brothers flinch. Mikey didn't get angry a lot. But when he did everyone was usually taken aback.
"I thought we were gonna watch a movie together," Mikey went on to say, dropping the bowl of popcorn onto the couch as he passed. Some of it scattered onto the couch and floor but he ignored it, glaring wholeheartedly at his older brothers. "I finally got Donnie to quit hiding in his lab like some hermit and you two RUINED it with all your stupid fighting."
At the mention of Donnie the two looked apologetic. They separated, glaring one last time at each other, before walking off to different parts of the lair.
Leaving Mikey alone with only the chatter of the TV and bowl of popcorn for company.
Mikey had sighed, plopping on the couch and feeling very much like a frustrated mom. It didn't take long for boredom to settle in. Nothing good was on TV, and watching Space Heroes wasn't as fun when there was no one else to enjoy it with. Even movie-watching, which he loved to do, seemed pointless. Mikey had wanted to spend time with his brothers, laughing and joking around.
Alone like this it just wasn't the same.
Which roused his brain into stirring a good half an hour later. Why couldn't he make his brothers get along? Donnie was a genius. He had to have thought of making a serum or regent at some point that could get Raph and Leo to shut up. Even if he hadn't made something like that yet, Mikey could easily step up. He wasn't genius smart like Donnie by any means... but he was creative smart and sometimes that produced results even better than a logical experiment!
Mikey had turned off the TV then, excitedly leaping to his feet. An evil smile crossed his lips.
To Donnie's lab he went!
Of course Donnie wouldn't let him inside.
Of course.
He should've known.
Mikey stared at the cold metal doors of Donnie's lab, then stepped back, already racking his mind for a way to get in and out. All he needed was Donnie's laptop so he could look up information on serums that would put people in cheerful moods. God knows Raph would need about a hundred extra doses of that thing.
Then it dawned on him. A gleeful smile spread on Mikey's face. He dashed out of sight down the end of the hall, then employed one of his lesser known skills: voice throwing.
"Oh April? What a lovely surprise! I didn't know you were stopping by for a visit! What? You wanna to see Donnie? I don't know Ape, he's been pretty silent all night. I'll just tell him you stopped by and-"
The lab door slammed open so fast Mikey wouldn't be surprised if it jammed. Donnie, clearly thinking Mikey and April were conversing somewhere near the entrance of the lair, ran in its direction. Mikey wasted no time afterwards, dashing into the lap with a critically searching eye.
There! On the desk!
Mikey ignored the bunch of small, possibly important, test tubes and beakers gathered around the laptop. He tucked the precious piece of technology beneath his arm, then turned to leave.
"MIKEY!"
Wow and Mikey had not been expecting Donnie to come back so fast. He must have really sprinted to accomplish that. And he looked furious. And embarrassed. Probably because he was easily tricked. And didn't get to see April. Ha.
Mikey sheepishly grinned from behind his brother's desk. "Oh heyy D. Did April leave already?"
Donnie stalked towards him with a rage normally reserved for enemies who had injured one of their brothers. Mikey shrunk back against the wall.
"I'm gonna take that as a yes. Well- I see that I'm in your way so I'll just leave and-"
Donnie stepped in his path, blocking all escape. His eyes flitted from Mikey's face to his laptop under his younger brother's arm. "Mikey..." he dangerously began. "What are you doing with my computer?"
Mikey innocently glanced between Donnie and the laptop. "This thing? I was just, um, you know-" He didn't finish, opting to spin in the other direction and bolt from around the desk. Donnie was scarily fast, seizing him by the shell mere inches from the door.
"Give it back!"
"No way, bro! I need this!"
"Mikey, I'm WARNING YOU-!"
"IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!" Mikey yelled, trying desperately to twist out of Donnie's vice-grip. But his brother had ridiculously strong wrists from years of practice with the bo staff. So Mikey went limp and let his dead weight throw Donnie off-balance. Thankfully it worked, allowing Mikey to throw his brother over his shoulders.
Donnie hit the ground with a thud so loud it echoed. Mikey apologetically smiled.
"Sorry, D."
He made it one foot out the door before Donnie swept his feet out from under him. Mikey hit the floor. They were both on two legs again within the next second, warily circling one another in the lab as if they were in the dojo about to spar.
Donnie's eyes narrowed. He lunged. Mikey tried to leap back but moved too late.
Soon they were tugging on either end of the laptop, trying desperately to keep it in their possession.
"Mikey you're being ridiculous-!"
"I'm telling you to back off, Donnie-!"
"It's MY laptop!"
"Just let me borrow it-!"
"NO!"
And that's when the laptop went spinning like a frisbee out of their hands, crashing magnificently into all the beakers and tubes on top Donnie's desk. The chemicals collided, miniature explosions resounded, and colorful puffs of dust were left clouding the room. Mikey stared horrified. Donnie stared horrified. And they continued staring horrified until the first pink cloud of dust began seeping into their eyes and making it burn.
"MY LAB!" Donnie shrieked.
Mikey stepped away, eyes wide, hands raised, because this was not how he wanted this to go at all, and all he wanted was for Donnie to be happy but now it looked like Donnie was going to have a mental breakdown instead and it was all his fault and-
"Get out."
Donnie's voice was deathly quiet.
Mikey gulped. "H-Hey, I'm sorry Donnie I-"
Donnie whirled around and shoved at his plastron. "I said get out!" he yelled.
"What's going on? Is everything alright?"
Of course Leo and Raph would have to show. Of course they would. Mikey tried to make himself as small as possible in the darkened hall of the lair as his older brothers stepped past him and into the mess that was the lab.
"Donnie calm down," Leo was saying, setting a hand on the younger turtle's shoulder.
"Calm down? I spent weeks on these mixtures, Leo, weeks and he just came in and ruined it-!"
Now Raph was shaking his head at Mikey through the door and Leo was glaring and Donnie was nearing frustrated tears and...
Well. At least they weren't angry at each other anymore. Just him.
The lab doors were shut in his face with a stern, "Stay out", from Leo.
Several hours passed.
At first Mikey had lingered outside the hall, listening with worry whether or not Donnie had actually cried and trying to gauge how mad his other brothers were at him. But it soon became apparent they weren't leaving any time soon. And even if they did, seeing him standing there wasn't going to make them any happier. So he went to his room and laid on his bed, staring at his ceiling.
He didn't know how long he was there before his stomach growled. Warily he left his room and headed for the kitchen. Donnie's lab was silent. The lair was void of any of his brothers. Either they were hiding from him or they would doing a really good job of keeping quiet. Either way Mikey didn't like it.
He ate a cold slice of pizza in silence.
By the time he was leaving the kitchen and contemplating ways to make things up to Donnie, Master Splinter had left his room and wandered in. His brows arched in surprise.
"Michelangelo. I thought you were going to watch a movie with your brothers."
"Me too," Mikey mumbled. He straightened up under his sensei's curious gaze. "Uhh, but plans changed. What are you doing, sensei?"
"I find myself in need of a cheese pop."
"Oh cool. Well I'll just..." Mikey started to inch out the kitchen. Master Splinter set a hand on his shoulder.
"My son... is something the matter?"
"Donnie and I kind of had a fight. And I think the others are mad at me..." Mikey admitted. Resolve settled in his eyes. "But I'm gonna fix it. Right now."
Master Splinter nodded, a small smile gracing his lips. "See that you do."
Which is why an hour later Mikey stood outside Donnie's lab with a fist half-raised. He'd heard nothing, absolutely nothing, the entire hour he stood outside. Of course during that time he'd been trying to figure out what to say once he got inside, but his thoughts had quickly derailed as to why it was so dang quiet. Did they fall asleep or something?
"Donnie?" he hesitantly called, finally knocking on the door. "Donnie listen... I'm really, really sorry! I swear I didn't mean to mess things up!"
No answer. Well he kind of expected that.
He knocked again. "Donnie you can't ignore me forever! I mean- you could- but it would really suck! C'mon bro..."
Still nothing.
"I'll do your chores for a month!" He struggled to get out the next words. "Or- or even longer if you want... Donnie? Leo? Raph?"
Okay this was getting silly. He got they were mad but the least they could do was shout at him to go away and not give him the silent treatment for so long. Honestly he was surprised Raph hadn't said anything yet.
Mikey steeled his nerves, ready for the worst of lectures, and pushed open the door. It groaned loudly in protest.
The lab was empty save for the pungent smell of all the chemicals Mikey had caused to explode into the air. He fought the urge to puke.
"Aw gross, this place reeks!"
He glanced around. None of his brothers were to be found. Mikey frowned. Did they leave? No way. He would've heard the door. Mikey warily wandered the lab, a heavy feeling of dread in his gut for no reason he could place.
Man...he really did a number on the place. There was broken glass everywhere. And horrid green and blue stains seeping into the tiles.
Wait.
Why hadn't it been cleaned?
Sharp pain suddenly rocketed through his leg. Mikey yelped, hopping on one feet. Bright red blood splattered. He made a face at the shard of glass wedged between two toes, reaching down and yanking it out. It clattered to the floor.
"Ow," he quietly mumbled. He cautiously set his foot down, grimacing as it ached.
Mikey stared at the ground for a while longer, attention locked onto three pieces of colored cloth. Awfully familiar colored cloth. The pile of cloth shifted. And Mikey froze.
Three turtle heads.
Now Mikey might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but it didn't take a genius to connect the dots. And unless Donnie had been creepily keeping a bunch of turtles in his lab as pets, these three turtles could only be one thing.
His brothers.
He sputtered for a moment, having to rub at his eyes several times to confirm what he was seeing.
His brothers were turtles. Actual turtles. Like the ones people would buy at pet stores and feed lettuce and keep in tanks. They fussed and swung their heads around, locking their tiny, beady eyes onto his legs. One floundered on its back. Mikey hesitantly reached out and righted the turtle, trying to figure out which brother it was.
Donnie, he thought as his fingers touched the small turtle's shell. Somehow instinctively he knew.
Donnie crawled slowly, as if he didn't know how to use his own four legs. Mikey watched him for a moment before turning his attention to the other two turtles, tangled helplessly in their headbands. He carefully pried them out and set them near Donnie. Raph was bulkier than the others. Leo's shell was darker than the others. It wasn't hard to tell them apart.
It was hard to accept what had happened.
Mikey scooped them in his hands, terrified, bewildered, and in awe of their sheer cuteness all at once.
"Oh shell."